Baxter County jailer threatened by murder suspect with shanks in his cell

A 43-year-old Mountain Home man in the Baxter County jail on a capital murder charge reportedly had four improvised weapons and threatened to stab a jailer, according to an incident report.

Rick Allen Headley is being held without bond on a charge of capital murder and related crimes. According to an incident report, two other inmates told a jailer Headley threatened to stab a Baxter County jailer.

Shortly after the alleged threat was reported, jail staff found a broken fluorescent light bulb in Headley's cell.

A few days later, another search of Headley's cell revealed two pieces of sharpened metal hidden in the bottom of the top bed where Headley slept in the lower bed.

The placement of the sharpened pieces of metal, commonly referred to as shanks, made them easily available to Headley when he was occupying the lower bunk, according to the incident report.

The third shank was found stuffed inside Headley's foam mattress, officials said.

Following the discovery of the weapons, Headley was removed from the pod where he had been housed and placed into a holding cell. The incident report notes the move was made for the safety of other inmates and jail staff.

Kirstie Headley(Photo: Family photo)

The murder allegation against Headley

Mountain Home police say Kirstie Headley was stabbed to death March 13 by her estranged husband Rick Headley, who was arrested and charged with capital murder in connection with her death.

An affidavit in the case says a video surveillance camera in the store captured Rick Headley, armed with a knife in his right hand, drag his estranged wife out of the store.

Once outside, Headley allegedly stabbed her multiple times. One witness reported seeing Headley stabbing his estranged wife, while a second witness told police they saw Headley striking his estranged wife, but didn't know Headley had a knife.

When interviewed by police after being read his rights, Headley reportedly told police he drove to the Dollar General store where his wife worked with the intention of killing her.

Police interviewed other witnesses who reportedly confirmed Headley went to the store with the intention of killing her.

Should the state make the decision to seek the death penalty in the case and Headley be found guilty of capital murder, the only possible punishments he could face are life in prison without parole or death.

Headley also faces charges of false imprisonment, terroristic threatening, aggravated assault and violation of a protection in connection with the case.

In November of 2017, Kirstie filed for and was given an order of protection barring her estranged husband from contacting her. In the petition, she said Rick Headley grabbed her by the throat and threatened her with a knife.

She later asked that the order be dropped and the court granted her request. Then, in January of this year, she asked for an received a second temporary order of protection.

In the second petition, Kirstie wrote that her estranged husband refused to leave the home, was physically, mentally and verbally abusive towards her and was breaking into the home while she was away at work.

The final order of protection was served on Rick Headley as he sat in jail awaiting trial for the murder of his estranged wife.